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Section 73: Power to make ordinary and emergency drought orders.

Water Resources Act 1991 · 1991 c. 57View on legislation.gov.uk

Part II: Water Resources Management — chapter III: DROUGHT

If the Secretary of State is satisfied that, by reason of an exceptional shortage of rain, there exists or is threatened—

a serious deficiency of supplies of water in any area, or
such a deficiency in the flow or level of water in any inland waters as to pose a serious threat to any of the flora or fauna which are dependent on those waters,

If the Secretary of State—

is satisfied that, by reason of an exceptional shortage of rain, a serious deficiency of supplies of water in any area exists or is threatened; and
is further satisfied that the deficiency is such as to be likely to impair the economic or social well-being of persons in the area,

then, subject to the following provisions of this Chapter, he may by order (in this Chapter referred to as an "emergency drought order") make such provision authorised by this Chapter as appears to him to be expedient with a view to meeting the deficiency.

Subject to section 76(3) below, the power to make a drought order in relation to any area shall not be exercisable unless an application is made to the Secretary of State—

by the appropriate agency; or
except in the case of an ordinary drought order by virtue of subsection (1)(b) above,by a water undertaker which supplies water to premises in that area.

The power to make a drought order shall be exercisable by statutory instrument; and Schedule 8 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the procedure on an application for such an order.

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This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.